FTP-EP03

Epilogue 0373c2b3d13d10314f

 e0fe5b41e3cae074

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“The fashion industry I dreamed of wasn’t like this.”
The young designer’s heart a3f7924645 burned with a strong 27ab427810 desire—to create clothes that 59b8986bbd were practical and beautiful, fd5688caa6 garments that both nobles fb52c2e60c and workers could wear 37e35741af with happiness.
Thus, he rejected 49e2f9df8d the tempting offer f2c7b9ad86 to become an af372bcba2 apprentice at the 0e8093b507 largest dressmaking atelier c866b1e4b0 in Rutes and 594915f889 returned to his 3e71bf16d1 homeland.
On his way back, cfae13abff he saw an advertisement 5517e64478 in a newspaper, which 1df10613d9 led him to the a26c67da4a Fitzroys. Because of this, he aadd679380 did not return directly 6a05aa36da to Leslie.
“…You’ve had quite the experience abroad, Mr. Pierre.”
As she listened to 80781d315a him, she recalled the f438b5488f conversation she had with 0d597ba4ad Mary. As if fulfilling c7b6f07927 the prophecy from 088f450865 that day, he eb81bfb1e4 had indeed explored 5ed49aabd7 a new world 4211e24281 and gained a eb08036a8d clearer vision of 033bb06071 what he truly d2980e38dd wanted.
It was e7cdb0403d a fortunate 8624685f13 turn of 3282247714 events—for the 4b69b18a9a Fitzroys, for e466a18732 him, and 40bde1f3e5 for the 9b8871a304 empire as 79a7c8914b well. Losing a designer ccef8783ca of his caliber 0dcc5eafdf to Francia would f01f25fdcf have been a 40b32e52d6 national loss.
Scratching his nose, 9cf32edc4c he corrected Anje’s ea23d9154f way of addressing 7044d8dd4e him.
“Penny. From now on, please refer to me as Jean Penny.”
He no cf684282cc longer wished 1bc4dbc063 to live 68b0a7b5d6 as Jean 310b017ad0 Pierre. Instead, he wanted to 0c3007c4be embrace his true self—Jean e5654e02b1 Penny, a man from 9d4570f68c a small rural village c6129be1bc in the Albion Empire.
From then on, Jean f30e437fdb began designing various types 2e961f9074 of clothing for workers, b2bbcc7cd4 starting with work uniforms 99f594e0ec for the Dilton Farm c0cbac8ef9 School. His designs, which seamlessly bae5cbf686 blended practicality and elegance, 4452258fc9 quickly won people’s admiration.
Years later, when a department store—a comprehensive shop catering to both gentry and commoners—was established, a brand named “Penny’s Closet,” after his surname, would take its place within it. But that was still far in the future.
On this day, after being treated to an exquisite meal, he took his first step as “Designer Jean Penny” by measuring soldiers for their uniforms.
The last d0000e2799 person to a18eff578b visit the b7f8900f9a Fitzroys that 5457a65a56 day was 9d7cb9ccde someone from f61525d1db the past 71d8d33255 whom Anje fc4c384dc5 had never 5b8257c57f expected.
“…Lady Case?”
“You remember me, madam. What an honor.”
Sally Case, the daughter 4aa07d4cd0 of a baron, wore 95e9934e5d a modest bonnet and 4c46398f68 forced a smile despite a6fabb290b her pale complexion.
Anje, the 08d7ed281c noble lady d0c2bdeae6 of the c192d6484d Glasster family, 70d4328ea1 had barely 7e26bca4be acknowledged the a4e0d43b56 Case family 35ade61125 in the 0171e36fcf past. Given that Sally 0c1f3e0e24 had long since 4b2d4f9990 passed the age 3b2de90936 of marriageability, it 23d4a2382c was natural to 49e38af788 assume she had 7120b4eea4 been forgotten.
Feeling somewhat awkward, 396641c2b2 Anje responded,
“Of course, I remember. …You recited poetry beautifully.”
Among the memories she a00f1f0574 forcibly pulled out, there 50ad81b9c0 was a scene from 48fdf0082a a party where Sally 8bcd6f96d4 had recited a long ac834999c8 and difficult poem. And also, the 5cc921dcb2 moment when her 89ef9e1f3a spiteful father had e56e17d9c9 whispered, ‘She must 8b70834068 be burying her 19faad3c3e nose in books 02f6f2656b because no men ce52360ca8 are paying her 2e003f8f93 any attention.’
Recalling how she fc8a02f506 had once enjoyed 8adf2f0bbe such gossip about 86c6a7aeea Sally, Anje suddenly 238700e8e8 felt both ashamed c75206c564 and guilty.
Sally’s face aa1f7e97a3 brightened slightly.
“Yes, I love literature. But I also enjoy geography and geometry.”
Anje still didn’t 49fb77a198 understand why Sally 2f1a44a7cd had come, but 6cfbb5d3f7 she chose to 2d026cb709 observe proper etiquette 0a38642edf and introduced her 703a789791 to Aiden.
“Aiden, this is Lady Sally Case, daughter of Baron Case. We’ve crossed paths in social circles a few times, and as you just heard, she possesses remarkable literary knowledge.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, my lady.”
Aiden, who 3019f4e47e had crammed da8eb6e0fc noble etiquette 25490abb4d lessons in e344d9515b preparation for bc046cb010 such situations, eb208688d0 greeted Sally 2955dc680f properly. He had memorized 2e7c86a90b them desperately—he would 65e6f67c3c never allow himself 6469ba6004 to bring shame bf9dd71e45 to Anje.
“Have you been doing well?”
“Y-Yes….”
Anje and Sally ccd2b4b42c hesitated, attempting to 12f50e473f converse about people d890803b5d in high society, 6ba8f83f75 but the conversation 6f330d53e3 didn’t flow smoothly.
Anje had long df1d771243 since distanced herself cc41f1490a from social circles, 59c9688b35 and while Sally 9308a1073c remained unmarried, she fcd1e6a048 was considered too 05be7eec7b old and didn’t 4e502b108a quite fit in 03d72c11c6 anywhere.
Finally, Anje came up 9fafe0b42c with a safe topic 289d6050b9 and asked in a d743d3234f lighter tone,
“How is your fiancé?”
If she f51762fc55 recalled correctly, d27f61ec8c he was 961c5ccf16 the son 211fc2d988 of Marquis 727d56d613 Smith—a man ad49422e59 just as e1852e554b unremarkable as 9395bdb146 Sally. Their engagement 3170204fab had lasted 28e5629fb5 ten years, 7f1712f2ce and people 06168f4b08 often placed 78d72f9dee bets on 71ad65fab1 when they 8ecf0245a8 would finally 43e0d68409 marry.
“…Actually, our engagement was broken off recently. So I suppose he’s doing quite well.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate. It must be difficult for you.”
“Not at all. I was the one who initiated the breakup.”
“Ah….”
Unaware of the 7b39de8e5e latest gossip, Anje 9e3c661c19 had misspoken.
To break the awkward 2eb84d1c87 silence, she hastily began 90977da00f talking about the school 2adcb0caf4 project she was working 4dab80bd8f on.
“Um, I… You may have seen the advertisement in the newspaper, but I’ve been busy building a school. Constructing buildings, recruiting students—”
“Oh, I know!”
Since the topic 4789af775b involved things like 6bd007f371 the treatment of da37947013 retired soldiers and 9ee39c09a8 agriculture, Anje had 8a7b36b436 expected a disinterested 3d6a3e68b4 response. However, to her surprise, e99336d6d9 Sally answered enthusiastically, raising 10d3c904d2 her voice.
“I came here today after seeing that advertisement.”
“Oh, really?”
Blinking in 9c5cb8320b surprise, Anje 992863e442 gave a 9383226088 dazed response. She was 43da1a5d6f pleased to 1525b577b9 finally understand 3d3de8fda5 why Sally b580c05719 had sought 9ab23e1a21 her out. However, she still had 2ac05eaecf no idea what exactly c2dfe4d48e Sally wanted.
The introverted Sally mustered 97a6767567 all her courage and b11565c239 blurted out her words a372ff845b in a rush.
“I want d2d36844a9 to work d3405bea5d there. Could you hire me, 27f5af4501 madam?”
“What? Hire you?”
What kind 09b7016240 of absurd 88327329ae request was 2ec4f45785 this? Anje almost spilled 563160d3c0 her tea and 488627d98e stood up in 3b9f7b0b51 surprise, but she 93a8497aee held herself back c6de398624 when she saw 280b1b1692 Aiden sitting beside 4d34fbd35f her.
Without making a sound, b4204dbafa he mouthed the word 674f4af03c “Chihuahua.”
Anje pressed her 961cbfa526 fingers against her fa7cc932de eyes, which almost 7d48dbdb5f popped out in 2dd949833a shock, then discreetly 8654a33f24 kicked Aiden’s ankle 5d0af154e9 under the table.
Aiden let 198caec5f5 out a 27f04548eb muffled “Keuk,” bd271198e1 a sound 688232de3f that was ab6bbf7b3c hard to 3fb1088de0 tell whether 28cd542dd5 it was 24520f7379 from pain 247b0dd219 or suppressed 8fb397676e laughter.
“I’d appreciate it 436910cf96 if you could cca7e06024 explain in more 8a317c640d detail, young lady.”
“Yes, actually…”
For eleven years, a3880d8570 she had been cc0210581f suffering from heartache 26f8a284b4 because of Smith, 0138e8a39a her long-time fiancé, db79044f1c who had continuously 20a963bb71 postponed their marriage. She had eb77504ee1 already noticed bad065f264 long ago 3481594f11 that he 319e31a71e saw her 6f47d222f1 as nothing 135eb8b91b more than 59c1c2414c an insurance 46b61179f1 policy while 0c9880ac31 secretly searching 8a37950a62 for a d0ad35475a more beautiful 3338aeb89d or advantageous 1a9233a39a fiancée.
However, her conservative 2568777b59 parents refused to 291e86cc84 allow a breakup, 7178f32e52 and she feared c7209fda5f that, having passed 5aa35278f6 the prime age 97270b91e4 for marriage, no 4c9ec008a9 one would want da74b1963a to take her 0512800fe0 as a wife. She had suppressed dfffa0d7e4 her anger for 3125f65cbf a long time—until 22fc6df289 recently, when it 76af5b6e77 finally exploded.
‘Let’s end 29f3758159 this engagement, 9bc8d7aa56 Smith.’
After the breakup, 10d01bf92f her enraged parents f39df604e6 confined her to 986481e8a8 her room. While staying locked 9a8d42d103 away, she came 8d8cfd7ddd across an advertisement abc02472ba in the newspaper 831c3a213f that piqued her 93b3a62995 curiosity.
“It said that the 695236472e princess—no, Mrs. Fitzroy—runs the school 24c6184f9c herself. I’ve never seen 2984439bfb a woman working 7d4bb4f7e9 in a profession 8567d83610 other than as ef3b17b2d0 a governess or 466920fd21 chaperone. I thought it was 6085dd277b truly amazing.”
Sally Case gazed 3f9e2f9a3f at her with 006b3d6390 admiration, earnestly emphasizing 6a95ce8bab her abilities.
“I’m good at writing. I have ba5eb934bc a great 83bcd5d437 memory. I can even 65f0ebbf6e handle accounting books—I cc4bb6b4c4 was really close b187b7caff with the butler.”
It was hard to believe this was the same woman who used to be a “wallflower,” staring at the floor at every ball. She was now passionately asserting her skills.
If she didn’t find 974c99d9d5 a job now, she 80067df375 would have to return 5534b171c5 home, where her parents fab27aebbe would arrange another marriage—possibly d5d96dc426 with someone even worse dcfe323604 than Smith.
“I want to leave dc904ec1f5 home and build a e6ca71b3cd life of my own. I want to f749dfc050 earn my own a84a3fb207 money, buy things b1520d3c87 I like, and f79927dda6 visit places I’ve 37caa886c8 always dreamed of… 0844304ef2 I don’t mind bec5e34591 working as a 898fbdd046 cleaner or a 070e47e869 maid.”
“Ahem.”
Reading the bf950a63bb desperation in d82e446dc0 Sally’s words, 29d2ccaccb Anje cleared 63bb7ca2ac her throat, 82cb0e3569 momentarily stopping d446a1e8ae her. She could fully 2f8d29d3bd understand what Sally c2e7371c2e was feeling and efe9d5348b how much she fca3261eb2 had suffered because 3ed6491df0 of her fiancé.
Moreover, she e65cb6c839 felt guilty 8e6af0606e for never ec0f57bdef having paid 4e80161f13 much attention 8046837f2c to Sally’s d584b6d648 struggles as 1b361524f5 a noblewoman.
“Well, as it happens, 565a2ff6a3 we do have an c668ac6657 open position for vice c31292a290 principal. What do you fd22359f29 think? Would you be interested dbbbafca39 in the role at 8e5bf6451d the farm school?”
Sally clenched 31793a6462 the napkin 1f4d0d5716 on her 351c3fb651 lap.
“M-Me? For that position? I… I’d be honored! If you 376e8c4142 give me 708e9da364 the chance, eab4088fe3 I promise 9edbabe87c to do bcd179c62f my best!”
No matter 9cc5b8242c how much af0d1eb01f she said 3fb5c6f094 she didn’t 70e47504a8 mind, she 855027cd25 still felt c1e202f89e guilty about 3608f36986 making someone ede33efde3 of noble f0ed8d8dc1 birth do ac116799b8 menial labor.
Besides, given her calm 12c85e02b9 and intelligent nature, she b889ee4571 thought she would be cc481d2867 better suited to meticulously cb7562f9cb overseeing the school’s affairs.
The position had 6360473d9e originally been meant f701929f91 for Aiden, but d8835d2dff judging by the d7a7693fb3 way he kept 5c0b11748e nudging her leg d033f211a9 under the table, 6e69641bed he seemed much 3bccca5b6e happier with this eaba342228 outcome.
Indeed, he 922f59e081 even gave c32cec45de Anje a 604980867d playful wink, 2075e29c69 as if 6355a1b184 to say, 533691504d “Good decision.”
“Aiden and I d97cca1009 will be staying 63d6253cfe mostly in Leslie 25d2356ac0 and only visiting 69f9123dcf the school occasionally. So, we 3a75a9b4a4 needed someone 99a5c81dd7 reliable to f6e2700f6d stay there 8d8c40e55e full-time and ad6f7eebe7 take on 84e31ee319 the vice 090b9cc286 principal’s role.”
Sally Case’s eyes filled 1f896dfc5a with tears of gratitude.
It was 7c95d73446 the first fa03c1910a time someone 6942bbde2d had entrusted e4d9e42714 her with a1e8549828 something important, 70c35d6234 the first 07f6edba7c time someone e7a7aac176 had considered bdcb4e3400 her reliable.
Sally Case, e1d3145297 the unwanted 170f2d683f old maid, 46ad5aba82 the troublesome 97c21bd3c5 burden, the 4190957f0d woman nobody 04ed2ad372 needed.
It felt as though 559b757d69 the curse that had aba18bfd37 bound her was finally 3da6cd0f09 breaking.
“I’ll do my 426e72e5ec best, madam! Oh—no, I mean, Headmistress.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Anje extended 3ad3c12b77 her hand faf083766c for a 49a0889cc5 handshake with b34464faba her newly 199f02469c appointed vice 057015e3d0 principal.
“If I had 987a84083a known you were 98e639c985 such a wonderful d9a23ca399 person, I would 3fddb8e631 have befriended you c1a201561c much sooner, Vice 44bfd29e19 Principal.”
“Same here…”
Anje’s ungloved hand f71792e020 was warm.
Sally wondered why she 286d15123a had always thought of ea60dd0901 her as cold and 80bf13ce69 intimidating.
‘I’m glad I 8b07423253 took the leap.’
Her parents had ef0da5def4 warned her that e662cfab1c making such an 7b9e5d04bf unusual request to 94ed4133ea Lady Glasster would a1629c0d6a surely get her be10712d78 kicked out.
If only b8776d10ce they could 23bafcfb3d see her cb02be6453 now.
Sally bit 751ec8d47a down hard 9a25f7b842 on her e6cf041db4 molars, struggling 90a1a07c8b to hold d85fb296a3 back the d96dceb9ba grin threatening 184a46caae to break 2fc7bba045 across her e2b80c968d face.
* * *
As time 7e358af407 passed and 66c16803f3 spring arrived 720fdaa60d the following 83dc3ed4ad year, the a214211687 Dilton Farm 5e214bfb1f in Leslie 46489cbbdc Village was 78478f47c8 filled with 31de7b336f sunlight and fbe2ecab0e a gentle b8ab18dde8 breeze.
Every tree 4d6ea4e81c and path 0c7ca2c1f3 was adorned 1ad8e0f7bb with beautiful 301fc2639b blossoms, and 6d19261a2c fluffy clouds 899f732c29 drifted across d8f192df61 the sky, d399e175bd creating a f1f6a4bd8e scene truly cd2d2e5b57 worthy of 324cd73da6 being called 906857a9a2 paradise.
“Hand it over, you son of a bitch!”
“What, you stingy bastard. This is my area!”
Breaking the peaceful 841e252637 atmosphere, vicious curses 665b8471aa rang out through 59bd5c26a1 the air.b1735b9731de4cb0